Jib tacking device



(No Model.)

' P. J. MACDONALD.

JIB PACKING DEVICE.

Patented June 23, 1896.

. WITNESSES: INVENTOR f h/M'W ,WMOZMM Y I W w g a citizen of the United States, residing at UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER J. MACDONALD, OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

JIB TACKING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,549, dated June 23, 1896. Application filed September 20, 1895. Serial No. 563,077- (No model.) I

To coZZ whom, it may concern Be it known that 1, PETER J. MACDONALD,

Gloucester, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Handling Vessels Sails, which iinproveinent'is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

The object of my invention, by means of a novel arrangement of lines and devices, is to facilitate the handling of vessels sails, such as the jib, staysail, gaff-topsail, and all other sails that are drawn over or across the stays when tacking ship, and to save time in trimming sheets, the operation of which will be manifest, not only as a great saving of labor, but also to save wear, tear, and chafing of the sails and sheets upon the stays, when tacking, and also to insure a quick and easy method of handling.

The present method of tacking ship requires the sail and sheets to be drawn across the stays, and the weathensheet is laid across the stay and it is quickly worn out by constant chafing, and considerable force is required in tacking ship on account of the sail dragging upon the stay, and much time is lost, as it is frequently necessary to pay off the wind, so that the wind will assist in blowing the sail over or across the stays.

By my invention I partially furl or purse the sail by picking up the clue end of the same and carry it over the stay, and thereby prevent the sail or sheets from dragging or chafing upon the stay. I attain this object by the lines and devices illustrated in the the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a vessel with the jib rigged according to my invention. Fig. 2 represents the edge view of a sail and devices with the sheet drawn to port. Fig. 3 represents the edge view of a sail and devices with the sheet drawn to starboard. Fig. 4 represents the edge view of a sail and devices with the runner drawn half-way through, with the sheets opposite each other ready to be drawn either to port or to starboard.

A represents the deck of a vessel; B, the fore and top mast; O, the jib-stay; D, the jib; E, the bowsprit; F, the forestay.

The jib D is supported by the jib-stay 0, one end of which stay is fastened to the top of the mast B, and the other, after passing down through the bowsprit E, is attached beneath the bowsprit at G.

In my invention I set a metal saddle a onto jib-stay O, to which I secure a metal clamp b by bolts 0 c, in which said metal clamp b is set a bulls-eye cl, the said metal clamp I) being fastened to the luff side of the jib D by seizing. Through the bulls-eye cl I pass a runner 6, made of suitable rope. In each end of said runner e is set a bulls-eye ff, the said runner 6 being made of sufficient length to reach through the bulls-eye cl to the cringle I-I. The sheets I I are securely fastened to the cringle II at the clue end of the jib, and are rove through the bulls-eyes f f in runner 6. (See Figs. 2,3, and 4;.) In tacking ship, by hauling the weather-sheet, the clew end of the jib D is picked up and held by the runner 6 until it is carried over the forestay F, and the runner c then pays through the bulls-eye cl and draws the jib D and the weather-sheet out clear from the forestay.

The before-described invention may be affixed equally as well to the staysail, gafftopsail, or any other sail that is drawn over or across the stays, as it is to the jib, and in the same manner as herein described.

The same object that is accomplished by my invention may be accomplished by the use of a bulls-eye set into or fastened upon the luff side of the sail, with a runner passing through said bulls-eye, with other b'ullseyes in each end of said runner, through which last-menti0ned bulls-eyes the sheets are rove, as before described, but I prefer the saddle set upon the stay and the bulls-eye in the clamp, which said clamp is fastened to the saddle and sail, as hereinbefore set forth. I do not limit myself to this particular form in every respect as to the various parts herein shown and set forth, as they may be varied Without departing from my invention.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A sail and a sheet-rope attached thereto at its rear free corner, combined with a guiding 01' bulls eye in the front edge of the sail, and I0 an endWise-moving rope passed through the eye, and having a ring secured to each end for the ends of the sheet-rope to pass through, substantially as shown.

PETER J. MACDONALD. Vitnesscs:

GEO. E. MERCHAND, SIDNEY F. HASKELL. 

